Now, he’d made a vow to her. And she trusted it implicitly.
“When I sent you that note, Vaughn, I told you we were here for you.” She tugged their joined hands to her growing baby bump and placed his palm there. “I meant it. I love you.”
His hand spanned the curve of new life and the baby fluttered with her own acknowledgment. His eyes widened. A hint of wonder inside the man who thought he didn’t show anything to the world. Her heart melted.
“I’m here for you, too, Abby.” He drew her close, kissing her with the tender promise of forever. “Both of you.”
Her head tipped forward, touching his. She’d never felt so cherished. So precious. So loved. For a moment, she forgot everything else but him. When his lips claimed hers the next time, she clung to him, answering his kiss with a passion that simmered just below the surface.
From the opposite side of the children’s ward lounge, someone started to clap. Someone whistled.
Turning as one with Vaughn, Abigail saw Dr. Hutchinson at the nurses’ station just beyond the tree sculpture. He seemed to be the ringleader, still whistling, as other nurses and staffers peeked out of patient rooms to see what the fuss was about. A couple of cheers went up. Even a few parents in the lounge joined in the applause.
Vaughn gave the group—his colleagues—a thumbs-up that seemed to quiet them. He turned back to Abigail and kissed her again.
“Everyone loves a happy ending.”
“I guess so.” She laughed, a sound of joy spilling over. She couldn’t be happier. And then she remembered she had even more good news. “Dr. Hutchinson said the baby is going to be fine, you know.”
The raw emotion in Vaughn’s eyes told her how scared he’d been. How much he already cared for this baby.
“That’s the best news I could have asked for.” His shoulders relaxed, his smile huge, lighting up the room. “I was prepared to call in every specialist nationwide to help Hutch with your case.” Vaughn turned serious again, his commitment to her baby as deep as the one he’d made to her.
He would love and protect them both.
“Thank you.” She laid a hand on his chest, grateful to have him back in her life. For good. “That means so much to me.”
Vaughn stroked her hair. “Hutch told me it was okay to be terrified for the sake of your child. Normal.” He squeezed his eyes closed. “I don’t know why it helped to hear it from him, but I needed that different perspective to make me see I wasn’t just detaching because of the PTSD.”
“I’m all about seeing things through different eyes.” Abigail had a career in art that she loved because of it. “And I’m so happy you think of this baby that way. As your child.”
He was signing on for much more than being her partner.
“I can’t wait to have you both in my life every day. To grow a family and find happiness together.”
“What are we waiting for, exactly?” she asked. “I’m ready to start now.”
His smile warmed her to her toes. She wanted to see it each day, even for a little while.
“Well, first, I need for my shift to end.” He stood, drawing her to her feet with him. “I’m hoping no one noticed I went AWOL to flirt with the hot artist working in the children’s ward.”
“I won’t tell,” she promised, thinking about all she wanted to share with this man.
All she still wanted to find out about him.
“But I could pick you up on my way home tonight. Maybe bring you to the ranch for the night? Or forever?”
The question brought tears to her eyes on a day that had already brought her so much hope and promise.
“I would like that.” She couldn’t wait to be alone with him. To celebrate in private.
“Then I’ll pick you up at eight thirty.” He kissed her forehead, swiping a finger along her cheek to catch a happy tear. “And start the rest of our lives together.”
She brushed her lips to his, standing on her toes. “It’s a date.”
* * * * *
Don’t miss a single installment of
TEXAS CATTLEMAN’S CLUB:
THE IMPOSTOR.
Will the scandal of the century
lead to love for these rich ranchers?
THE RANCHER’S BABY
by New York Times bestselling author Maisey Yates.
RICH RANCHER’S REDEMPTION
by USA TODAY bestselling author Maureen Child.
A CONVENIENT TEXAS WEDDING
by Sheri WhiteFeather.
EXPECTING A SCANDAL
by Joanne Rock.
REUNITED...WITH BABY
by USA TODAY bestselling author Sara Orwig.
THE NANNY PROPOSAL
by Joss Wood.
SECRET TWINS FOR THE TEXAN
by Karen Booth.
LONE STAR SECRETS
by Cat Schield.
* * *
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Upstairs Downstairs Baby
by Cat Schield
Prologue
Everly Briggs made sure she gave every appearance of listening sympathetically as London McCaffrey imparted her romantic woes. They were attending the “Beautiful Women Taking Charge” networking event, featuring a keynote from Poppy
